8 BROWN

WATERMELON (CITRULLUS
LANATUS) RINDS AS AN
ALTERNATIVE BIOBASED
POLYMER
GROUP 3
 INTRO
Nowadays, the modern industrial use of synthetic polymers such as plastics have an
important role in the local economy. However, the use of synthetic polymers is not
very eco friendly and may affect the environment for several reasons. According to
The World Counts, the global consumption of plastics is 100 million tons of plastics
every year. Some 10 percent of this plastic end up in the oceans. Packaging plastics
account for over half of the total global plastic usage. One alternative solution that
can improve this global concern is the use of bio-based polymer (materials produced,
at least in part, from biomass, generated from renewable resources, such as plant
waste— watermelon rinds)
 INTRO
Watermelon is a refreshing fruit that is loved by many, especially The rind, usually discarded as waste, has been found to contain
during summer. However, what most people do not know is several compounds that can be utilized to make biopolymers.
that watermelon rinds also have a valuable use beyond just These biopolymers can be used as a substitute for synthetic
being composted. Watermelon rinds are a rich source of bio- plastics, which are non-biodegradable and harmful to the
based polymers that can be used as a sustainable alternative to environment. The use of watermelon rinds as a bio-based
petroleum based polymers or synthetic polymers like polymer has the potential to reduce waste, decrease reliance on
polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), nylon, polyester (PS), petroleum-based polymers, and offer a sustainable alternative
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and epoxy (commonly known as to traditional plastics. This study aims to explore the use of
plastic). Watermelon rinds contains the components of dietary watermelon rinds as a bio-based polymer to develop a
fiber approximately 20% cellulose (acclaimed as the most sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic
abundant biopolymer) 23% hemicellulose, 10% lignin, and 13% plastics.
pectin per 100 gram. Citrullus Lanatus, commonly known as
watermelon, belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and is widely
cultivated all over the world.
 SPECIFIC
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
2.What are the
1.Determine its advantages of using
effectiveness in being watermelon rinds as an
transformed into a alternative bio-based
The purpose of the study is to determine the functional alternative polymer environmentally,
bio-based polymer. economically and socially
effectiveness and capability of transforming
compared to synthetic
watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) rinds as an polymers?
alternative biobased polymer.

3.What is the impact of

using watermelon rinds
as an alternative bio-
based polymer in our
environment?

HYPOTHESIS SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Alternative hypothesis: watermelon rind can be useful Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) rinds as an alternative
and cheaper biobased polymer than the other biobased biobased polymer can be recycled and composted. It
researched also reduces waste and can be very beneficial to our
environment in light of the current crisis.
Null hypothesis: watermelon rind can not be useful and Furthermore, the materials are renewable, which
cheaper biobased polymer than the other biobased reduces reliance on fossil fuel-based food packaging
researched materials as well as plastic pollution. Polymers help us
save energy by making lighter vehicles and insulating
Cause and Effects
buildings; they package consumable goods; they
If watermelon rind is use for the biobased polymer then
reduce land use and fertilizer use due to synthetic
it will be less cheaper than the other biobased
fibers; they preserve other materials through coatings;
researched
and they save lives through a variety of medical
applications. It is made from non-toxic materials and
Dependent variable: biobased polymer
consumes less energy than traditional plastics.
Independent variable: watermelon rind
 RRL
Watermelon rind is a portion of the fruit that is rarely used and has little exposure to polymer compounds that could potentially yield starch. Chitosan and lemongrass
oil additives, which are derived from biomass and utilized as the anti-microbial agent, are used in cases when it is necessary to increase the tensile strength
characteristic of the bioplastic film. The additions of chitosan and lemongrass oil were combined with watermelon rind starch. Because it could completely dissolve in
starch solutions and other organic compounds, glycerol was utilized as a plasticizing agent. In the watermelon case study, rind starch was synthesized using an
extraction technique, with a yield of up to 0.07%. Amylose/amylopectin and plasticizing agent can be used to create bioplastic films, however the purpose of this work
is to compare their differences. We therefore performed some analyses for this study using FTIR, tensile strength, scanning electron microscopy, and biodegradation.
The sample with the highest tensile strength value was starch + 0.5 ml glycerol + 0.75 g chitosan, and the sample with the highest elongation value was starch + 0.5 ml,
14.2%. The deterioration process is influenced by the effect of mixed lemongrass oil, taking longer than with the other samples.

Effect of carbonized watermelon rind powder on the mechanical and thermal properties of unsaturated polyester composites: A special insight to chemical
resistance and value addition Based on the study, Preparation of bio-based is obtained from fruit waste and its application in dull polyester. Fragment-sized
examination, the Fourier transform is used to distinguish the size and formation of the filler named cauterized watermelon rind filler. The variable consists of about
0-15% prepared and its mechanical plot such as tensile and flexural. Tensile modulus was known because it increased from 17% to 10% filler loading than the unfilled
one. The results are supported by using scanning electron microscopy measurements of the variable. Almost all the fabricated combination has the power to resist
the chemicals and it shows that the composites have outstanding chemical refusal. The thermic composition is characterized by the thermogravimetric analysis. The
analysis said that there was no other improvement that happened in the temperature of the filled.

A pectocellulosic bioplastic from fruit processing waste: robust, biodegradable, and recyclable With the goal to fight the huge quantity of plastic packaging waste
generated by the food industry, recyclable and biodegradable bioplastics made from biomass resources must be developed quickly. Here, a novel "top-down"
method is used to create high-performance pectocellulosic bioplastics using fruit processing waste, especially citrus peels which are rich in cellulose and pectin.
Citrus peels had been processed to isolate the pectin, cellulose, and lignin, and then the pectin and cellulose components combined to generate a pectin-cellulose
film-forming slurry that was cast into films. The cast films were then placed in a CaCl2 solution after drying to crosslink the chains of pectin. Due to inter/intra-
molecular entanglement between the cross-liked pectin and cellulose micro/nanofibers, the resulting pectocellulosic bioplastic films had a dense lamellae structure
and offered excellent mechanical capabilities, simple recycling, and quick biodegradation. Additionally, This pectocellulosic bioplastic exhibited Excellent water
stability, water vapor barrier skills, and antioxidant activity were all shown by this pectocellulosic bioplastic. The manufacturing process of bioplastics from various
pectin- and cellulose-rich biomass raw materials (such watermelon rind, pineapple rind, and cantaloupe rind) adopted the same methodology, which is interesting.
The biomass-derived bioplastics developed in this study have potential to substitute petrochemical-derived plastics in a number of applications, such as active
food packaging, from an ecological and financial point of view.
 METHODOLOGY
After collecting the watermelon (citrullus lanatus) rinds from households, supermarket.,
or manufacturers, we dice the watermelon (citrullus lanatus) rinds into smaller pieces
and place it inside a blender to be turned into a pulp. Add starch (arrowroot starch)
specifically and a cup of water inside the blender before turning it on. The outcome pulp
will then be placed in a tub that has just a right amount of clean water and can fit a
15x18 cm paper making screen. Dip the paper making screen into the mixture, move it
around and repeat layering the paper making screen until you notice a thick consistency
of paper already. Dry it out under the sun for 24 hours until completely dried.

Materials and Equipment

This study requires the following materials and equipment: 1.5 kg of watermelon rinds,
100 grams of arrowroot starch, blender, 1 tub, 1 15x18 cm paper making screen, and 1.5
liters of water.
FLOW CHART
CITATIONS

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K., Koombhongse, P., & Young, B. M. (2022, August 9). Active Thermoplastic Starch Film with
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Zhang, S., Fu, Q., Li, H., Wu, P., Waterhouse, G. I., Li, Y., & Ai, S. (2023). A pectocellulosic bioplastic
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Wadgaonkar, K. K., Mehta, L. B., Bamane, P. B., Pon Kumar, R., & Jagtap, R. N. (2018). Effect of
carbonized watermelon rind powder on the mechanical and thermal properties of unsaturated
polyester composites: A special insight to chemical resistance and value addition. Advances in
Polymer Technology, 37( 8 ), 3421-3431.